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Archives & Genealogy
Library Collection
The library's Archives & Genealogy section is located on the second floor of the Main Library. While being a depository to help retain information pertinent to the history of Belleville and the library, it also includes an impressive genealogical collection for St. Clair County and the surrounding counties.
Databases for Archives & Ancestry
Access other on-line databases for Archives and Ancestry records.
Belleville News-Democrat Collection
Research Belleville history through the Belleville News-Democrat Collection with coverage from 1901 through current. Study trends, issues, events, advertisements, companies and more through historical and current full newspaper pages, full-text articles and content only published online. Available remotely 24/7 on any device.
Walnut Hill Cemetery Records
View burial records and maps for Walnut Hill Cemetery; the city-owned cemetery located 1101 Mascoutah Avenue in Belleville.
Library Research Policy
The library's archives staff does not do extensive, general family research, but will search indexed material for specific names in a specific record (i.e. an obituary for a time range from a particular community newspaper held by the library.) The fee is $2.50 per name per record, payable by cash or check to the Belleville Public Library.
Requests for research can be made the following ways:
Online - Use the Archives & Genealogy Information Request Form
In Person - Visit the 2nd floor of the Main Library located at 121 E. Washington St.
By Email - Send detailed requests to archives@belleville.net
By Mail - Send detailed requests to: Belleville Public Library, Archives Section, 121 E. Washington St., Belleville, IL, 62220. Requests must include a stamped, self addressed envelope and a check for $2.50, made payable to the Belleville Public Library.
By Phone - Requests can be made by calling 618-234-0441.
Digitized Items
Below you will find links to view digitized items from the library collection. Belleville city directories, library related material, and historical items are included. All items are in PDF format.
City Directories
1860 Belleville City Directory1868-1869 Belleville City Directory
1877 Belleville City Directory
1884 Belleville City Directory
1891-1892 Belleville City Directory, East St. Louis City Directory, and St. Clair County Gazetteer
- Part 1 (Belleville Directory - Page 1 - Hopp, Michael)
- Part 2 (Belleville Directory - Hoppe, Hugo - Z's)
- Part 3 (Classified Business Directory)
- Part 4 (East St. Louis Directory)
- Part 5 (Birkner, Caseyville, Centerville Station, Cahokia, Darmstadt, Douglass, East Carondelet, Fayetteville, Floraville, Freeburg, French Village, Lebanon, Lenzburg, Marissa, Mascoutah, Millstadt, National Stock Yards, New Athens, O'Fallon, Old Harmony, Paderborn, Rentchler, Risdon, St. Libory, Shiloh, Smithton, Stookey, and Summerfield)
- Part 6 (St. Clair County Farmers and Land Owners Directory)
1894-1895 Belleville City Directory
- Part 1 (Page 1 - Eckel, Hannah)
- Part 2 (Eckel, John - Natterer, Peter)
- Part 3 (Nauert, Lena - Z's)
- Part 4 (Page 353 - end) This section includes the Business Directory.
1896-1897 Belleville City Directory
- Part 1 (Page 1 - Haas, Otto H.)
- Part 2 (Haas, Selma - Owens, Ida)
- Part 3 (P's - Z's)
- Part 4 (Business Directory - end)
1904-1905 Belleville City Directory
- Part 1 (Page 1 - Falk, Louis)
- Part 2 (Faller, Fred - McCarthy, Hannah)
- Part 3 (McClain, Lizzie - Zwick, Mamie)
- Part 4 (Business Directory, Rural Route Directory, & Swansea)
1906-1907 Belleville City Directory
- Part 1 (Page 1 - Falcetti, Matthew)
- Part 2 (Falconer, George P. - Magrum, Jacob)
- Part 3 (Mahaffey, Patrick - Z's)
- Part 4 (Business Directory)
1908-1909 Belleville City Directory
- Part 1 (Page 1 - E's)
- Part 2 (F's - McKiernan, Wm.)
- Part 3 (McLaughlin, Sarah E. - Z's)
- Part 4 (Business Directory)
1912 Belleville City Directory
- Part 1 (Page 1 - F's)
- Part 2 (G's - Natterer, Peter)
- Part 3 (Nebgen, Albert - Z's)
- Part 4 (Business Directory)
1925 Belleville City Directory
Historical Atlases
Mitchell's New General Atlas (1865)
Library History
Bella Steuernagel's Belleville Public Library, 1836-1936: An Historical SketchLocal History Items
Souvenir of the Consecration of St. Peter's Roman Catholic Cathedral (1939)Public Schools
First Annual Report of the Belleville Public Schools, for the school year ending in June, 1874Second Annual Report of the Belleville Public Schools, for the school year ending in July, 1875
Third Annual Report of the Belleville Public Schools, for the school year ending in June, 1876